Major upgrade planned for Brighouse train station as part of £7.4m scheme

On Tuesday members of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee will discuss a £7.4 million proposal to improve access to both Brighouse Station and the under development Elland Rail Station.

The scheme will be funded through the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund, and is an attempt to get more people to ditch cars and use public transport.

In Brighouse, the works will include junctions improvements for cycling and walking from the north of Brighouse to the town centre, and improving access by foot and bike to the rail station.

It will also tie in with plans to boost pedestrian and cycle routes in Brighouse.

A report to the committee says: “In Brighouse, the road network is congested and suffers capacity issues; the cycle facilities are limited, and the vast majority of commuting trips are accommodated by private car.

“Air quality is also an issue across Calderdale, which can have a detrimental impact on the health of local residents.”

Members of the committee will be told that there is currently little incentive to cycle to the station.

Works at Elland will include creating traffic free access to the planned station via National Cycle Network Route 66 and Calderdale Greenway to the new station via two pedestrian/cycle bridges.

At Thursday’s online meeting members will be advised to move each project on to the business case stage. A condition of the funding is that work will need to be completed by March 2023.

The Brighouse scheme is timed to be completed by this date, with the Elland scheme to be completed by August 2022.

The report adds: “At present, the local transport conditions in both Elland and Brighouse are poor.

“Elland has poor connections to key roads, local congestion during peak hours and declining and restricted bus services to local destinations, as well as poor access to the railway network.

“In Brighouse, the road network is also congested and suffers capacity issues, cycle facilities are limited, and the vast majority of commuting trips are by private car.

“Both Elland and Brighouse suffer from poor public transport connections and significant congestion levels.

“This hinders connection access to employment and education both locally and into Leeds and Manchester, presenting constraints on future growth and development.”

Members will hear that the scheme could face hurdles, including Covid restrictions slowing progress and the possibility that third party land may be needed for the work to go ahead.

The Committee will also discuss £15m plans to create a “modern, fit for purpose and environmentally friendly bus station” in Halifax, and an £18m scheme to re-develop Dewsbury Bus Station.

The committee will discuss the schemes during an online meeting on Tuesday morning.